Four more flu deaths reported in North Carolina

"It is too early for us to know what the flu vaccine effectiveness is for the USA, and we can't make predictions based on what happened in other countries like Australia because it's not an equal comparison".

But the holiday season is over and it's time to get back to reality.

"All indications show that we are in the midst of the most intense weeks of flu season", said Ganesh Shivamaiyer, DCHHS interim director. And you need to deal with it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports influenza activity has spread to 46 USA states. I urge people to get the vaccine if they have not already had it.

Health officials in North Carolina report four new flu deaths, while a school canceled classes for the rest of the week and hospitals placed restrictions on visitors because of the outbreak.

The City of Houston Health Department said one woman died at the end of November, while the other died at the end of December.

"At this moment, they are coming in just as quick as they were in December when flu season hit full swing", said Eric Schneider, epidemiologist with the Hays County health department, which had seen only 30 cases of the flu at this time previous year.

"The health department does track school absenteeism due to flu-like symptoms", Ms. Hall said.

Only shots are advised this year.

"Rumors that the flu vaccine is not effective this year are misleading", said Ehresmann. Shelly Harkins says that people should take any precaution they can to prevent the spread of the flu.

And since the flu season could last well into March or April, there's still plenty of time for it to make a difference.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

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Cases of the flu rose by 37 percent over the pass week. But the shot itself can't infect you. Anyone over 50 also should also get a pneumonia shot. There's still more you can do. Through small droplets from people who are talking, coughing or sneezing. Walgreens surveys more than 8,100 pharmacies nationwide every week to see where prescriptions for antiviral medications to treat flu symptoms are rising.

It is still too soon to say just how bad this flu season will be, but the CDC believes it could reach near epidemic levels.